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McMullen, Phyllis Saturday, 18 Dec 2004
Phyllis M. McMullen died Dec.18, 2004, with her daughter and four granddaughters by her side at Vashon Community Care Center. She was 93 years old.
Mrs. McMullen was born Nov. 10, 1911, in Davenport, Iowa, to Lawrence L. and Daisy LaRae Donnelly.
She married
George W. Hayes in Chicago, Ill., and they had two children, Robert L. and Sandra D. Hayes. After the marriage ended, she moved to Los Angeles in 1943 where she worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” and then as a waitress at MGM Studios and fine restaurants in Los Angeles. She ran a bus stop cafe near Blythe, Calif., until 1946. She then moved to Santa Fe, N.M. where she met and married
Eddie Gallagher. They moved to Seattle where she worked at the restaurant at the Roosevelt Hotel.
In 1951 they moved to Anchorage, Alaska. She worked at the Charter Room at the Westward Hotel for many years. She also lived in Juneau, Kodiak and Homer.
Mrs. McMullen worked for the Salvation Army as a social services visitor from 1985. In 1994 she moved to Vashon Island to be near her daughter. She lived at the Charter House apartments.
Survivors include her children Robert Hayes of Dallas, Ore., Sandra and her husband Gene Johnson of Vashon; grandchildren Jeremy Johnson of Vashon, Cindy (Martin) Hachle-Piccolo of Brussels, Belgium, Michael Snyder of West Seattle, Susan and her husband Craig Husa of Fall City, Laura and her husband Dan Tabish of Spokane, Debbie and her husband Doyle Pegram, Jackie and her husband Donnie Miller, Mark and his wife Rhonda Snyder, Linda and her husband Benny Ruiz, all of Othelo, Wash.; Nathan and Tyler and his wife Demaris Lahrum of Hawaii, Pamela and her husband Alan Johnson and Michelle Mulles of Calif., and Karin and her husband Tim McMahon of Colorado, and 14 grandchildren and 27 greatgrandchildren and 11 great- great- grandchildren.
At her request there will be no funeral service. Her ashes will be scattered in Alaska. There also will be a plaque at Vashon cemetery in her memory. There was a remembrance service with family members on New Year’s Day in Othello.
Memorials in her name may be made to Vashon Island Pet Protectors or a charity or cause meaningful to the giver.
Bucher, Elizabeth Wednesday, 05 Jan 2005
Elizabeth Irene Scott Bucher died Dec. 25, 2004, at Vashon Community Care Center. She was 69 years old.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Church of the Holy Spirit. Remembrances can be sent to the Episcopal Church or your favorite charity.
Hammermeister, Carolyn M. Friday, 31 Dec 2004
Carolyn “Carol” Hammermeister of Vashon Island and Puyallup died Dec. 31, 2004, at Sunshine Care in Seattle. She was 89 years old.
She was born in 1915 near Hastings, Neb., to Mabel and Guy Kress. In 1938 she married
Edward Hammermeister in the Philip-pines. He died in 1992.
Mrs. Hammermeister was a homemaker as well as an assistant in her husband’s business, Sound Battery Co. They moved to Vashon Island in 1981, and there she pursued her favorite activities — gardening and antiquing.
Survivors include all eight of her children — Karl Hammermeister, Helen Winterstein, Jay Hammermeister, Dale Hammermeister, Koko Hammermeister, Anne Winter, Beth Hammermeister, and Jon Hammermeister — sister Dorothy Kuper and brother Don Kress.
Service arrangements are pending. Contact (206) 524-3469. Donations in her name can be made to a tsunami relief group.
Pottinger, George Kingston Michael "Mike" Sunday, 26 Dec 2004
George Kingston Michael “Mike” Pottinger died Dec. 26, 2004, after a short illness. He was 75 years old.
Survivors include his wife Juanita Pottinger of Port Orchard, his sisters Heather Tait of Kamloops, B.C., and Ursula Ratti of Seattle, daughter Catherine Madison, son Kevin Pottinger of Vashon, daughter Carrie Pottinger of Paris, France, son Paul Pottinger and Todd Pottinger of Seattle, and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned sometime in the coming weeks.
Hansen, Lyle D. Thursday, 25 Jan 2007
Lyle Hansen of Burton, Vashon Island, died at home on January 25, 2007, surrounded by his family. Born on June 6, 1922 in Brayton, Iowa to Albert Hans Hansen and Adelia Anderson Hansen, Lyle and his family moved to Seattle in 1933, where he attended Lincoln High School and the University of Washington. He eloped with Marie Bjelland in March 1942.
Enlisting in the Navy in 1944, Lyle served as a combat photographer for CINCPAC in the Pacific Theater on several ships and aircraft at Guam, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima. He photographed the initial Marine landing at Yokusaka, Japan and the conditions of the Japanese on the island of Truk after surrender. After the war, Lyle returned to his job at Boeing where he was an industrial photographer and manager for 38 years.
Lyle and Marie built two homes in north Seattle and another on Vashon, settling in Burton in 1959, where boating became a major focus. He was a Commodore and life member of Quartermaster Yacht Club, and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In 1981, after working for 13 ½ years to build his last boat, he launched the 40-foot ferro-cement ketch, Starfire, which he sailed in the San Juans for 5 years as a charter captain.
Lyle and Marie wintered 11 years in San Diego near Marie’s sister and brother-in-law, Myrtis and Roland Hurd. During this time, Lyle discovered Photoshop and began assembling computers. For the next 12 years, he joined a number of camera clubs where he proudly exhibited works that used this new technology.
Lyle is survived by his wife, Marie; sons Steve and wife Ellen (Seattle); Perry and wife Barbara (Vashon); David and partner Norman (Victoria); Brian and wife Wendy (Bellingham); his brother Don (Bothell); sister and brother-in-law Pat and Howard Schjelland (Kenmore); five grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 17 at 1:00 pm at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit at 15420 Vashon Highway SW. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Vashon Fire and Rescue PO Box 1150, Vashon, WA 98070 or to Providence Hospice of Seattle Foundation, 425 Pontius Ave. N., Ste.300, Seattle 98109 or online at hospiceofseattle.org.
Kipp, Dwight (Pinky) Tuesday, 02 Jan 2007
Dwight (Pinky) Kipp of Tacoma died Jan. 2, 2007, at the age of 87. Born April 12, 1919, in Spokane to Carl T. and Ellen Kipp, Pinky (affectionately nicknamed by his early childhood peers) was a graduate of the University of Washington. He lettered and excelled in track, and was an avid Husky football fan. In WWII Pinky proudly served as a staff sergeant in the Air Force ground troops in Africa and Italy. His career with William Volker & Co. as a top sales representative spanned over 30 years. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and Rotary Club #8 as well as a member of the session of Immanuel Presbyterian Church and friend of First Congregational Church of Tacoma. Pinky and his family enjoyed many summers on Vashon Island and were full-time residents between 1973 and 1995. At one time Pinky was honored with the title “Mayor of Tahlequah.” He and his wife Grace also enjoyed many years of travel to Hawaii and Great Britain along with exotic cruises to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia and Scandinavia.
Pinky is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Grace Blangy Kipp, and three children: Jeff (Nancy) of Seattle; Kay (John) Carbery of Yakima; and Charles (Terrie) of Vashon Island. At Pinky’s request, private family graveside services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembrances be made to the Arthur Wickens Foundation of Tacoma Rotary (#8), Immanuel Presbyterian Church, or a charity of people’s choice. The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Franciscan Hospice Care and University Place Care Center for their compassionate care of Pinky.
Elmore, Gladys Monday, 01 Jan 2007
Gladys M. Elmore died at her home on Jan. 1, 2007, surrounded by her family. She was 93 years old. Gladys was born to Manly and Martha (Pierce) Ewing on Sept. 12, 1913, in Hillyard, Wash. She was the oldest of five children and grew up in Spokane where she met and married
her husband William (Bill) Elmore in 1931.
Bill and Gladys moved to Vashon Island in 1944 where they made their home and raised their four children.
Gladys’s husband Bill, her son Robert and her daughter Gloria Fuller died earlier. Survivors include her daughters Carol Cummings and Billie Coomer, her son-in-law Bill Coomer and her sister OraBelle Stolz of Spokane. Additional survivors include 13 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Gladys had many very good friends and enjoyed playing pinochle, traveling and participating in her Christian Science Church. According to her family, she will be missed dearly by all those who knew her.
A memorial will be held for her at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at Island Funeral Service, 18005 Vashon Highway S.W. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vashon Senior Center.
Spencer, Gerald (Jerry) Lee Sunday, 24 Dec 2006
Jerry Spencer, former Island resident and businessman, died at his home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, early on Christmas Eve.
Mr. Spencer, a fifth-generation Island pioneer, was born to Al and Harriett (Fuller) Spencer on Jan. 6, at the family home in Vashon Town during the blizzard of 1943. He attended Vashon Elementary School and graduated in Vashon Island High School’s Class of 1961. After graduation, he attended Washington State College in Pullman and went on to serve in the Washington National Guard.
Mr. Spencer worked for several years in his father’s automotive business, Al’s Service and Parts on Vashon. Later, he built and managed G.L. Spencer and Company, the Arco Service Station and Garage across from the K2 plant. With the closing of the business, Mr. Spencer and his family pursued other business interests in Federal Way, Denver and, finally, Coeur d’Alene.
Mr. Spencer had been in poor health, battling congestive heart failure for the past 10 years. Survivors include his wife Joyce (Epply) Spencer; daughter Shelley Hines, her husband Terry and their two children Brenna and Jacob of Coeur d’Alene and son Alec Spencer of Stanwood. Additional survivors include his sister Arlene Alexander of Federal Way, brother Wilbur Spencer of Vashon Island, aunt, Kathryn (Fuller) Nelson of Puyallup and many nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the Northwest. His brother Robert Lane Spencer and his parents died earlier.
At Mr. Spencer’s request, there will be no services. Remembrances or memorials may be made to favored charities.
Garrison, Clark Rees Saturday, 25 Nov 2006
Clark Rees Garrison, 52, of Burton, died of a heart attack on Nov. 25, 2006, on Vashon Island.
Mr. Garrison was born April 26, 1954, in Seattle. He grew up living at Vashon Heights and spending summers at a beach cabin on Ober Beach. He graduated from Vashon High School in 1974.
He followed his spirit of adventure to Alaska after briefly attending The Evergreen State College. There he became a commercial salmon fisherman and fished for 20 years out of his home in Ninilchik on his gillnetter, Greylight.
After the downturn in salmon fishing that followed the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Mr. Garrison developed home sites along the Ninilchik River on the Kenai Peninsula. In the process he became a skilled excavator operator.
In 1981 he married
Marte Sue Chapman. They divorced, but remained close friends over the years. In 1989, Mr. Garrison married
Lori Forrest. They raised two children. They spent summers in Alaska and winters traveling in their motor home to Mexico.
Mr. Garrison and family moved to Vashon Island, living in rentals until they built a house in Burton. He enjoyed creating a park-like setting on his property. He shared his land with others raising bees, greenhouse flowers, vegetables and bamboo.
Mr. Garrison and Lori separated, with the children returning to Alaska for the school year and spending vacations on Vashon. Three months before his death, Mr. Garrison was inspired to take a long-dreamed-of family vacation to the canals of Wales “before it’s too late.” He, Lori and the children spent three weeks in Europe this fall, making memories they will all treasure.
Mr. Garrison is survived by by his children Gwen, 17, Forrest, 15 and their mother Lori, all residents of Ninilchik, Alaska, as well as his former wife and friend, Marte Sue. Additional survivors include his father Gerry and stepmother Karin of Vashon, and his older siblings Ann of Anacortes and Ralph of Vermont. His mother, Gwen Rees Garrison, died earlier.
Friends and family say Mr. Garrison will be remembered for his ready laugh, quick wit and talent for figuring out complex systems, be they backhoes or board games. They also say he possessed a cheerful presence that never failed to light up a room.
Cremation will be handled by Island Funeral Service. A celebration of his life will be at Camp Burton at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. A potluck gathering will follow at Mr. Garrison’s house in Burton. For details call 463-4363.
Donations made be made in Mr. Garrison’s memory to The Unitarian Scholarship Fund or to Vashon Youth and Family Services.
Plancich, Marcie Lee Wednesday, 22 Nov 2006
Marcie Plancich died in a Seattle hospital on Nov. 22, 2006, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
Marcie was born in Seattle on Aug. 25, 1958, to Betty and Jerry Plancich. She attended Vashon High and Bates Vocational School. Growing up, Marcie was involved with the 4-H horse group, the handicapped and the Muscular Dystrophy organization.
She started her work career at K2 Ski Corporation as a teenager. She then went to work at Henry Bacon Lumber in Seattle and salmon fished in Alaska. For 10 years she worked as a butcher and grocery store owner in Dockton. She was the owner of a fishing boat and worked for five years at Message Check Corp. She went back to K2 and for the last five years worked in customer service as a special service coordinator.
Her family says Marcie was known by everyone as good natured, hardworking and dependable and that up until the end of her life, she kept her wonderful sense of humor and infectious smile.
Her brother Mark and her father Jerry died earlier. Survivors include her mother Betty, her brother Greg and his daughter Carlie, brother Gerald and wife Debra, nephew Brian and wife Aida Plancich and nephew Nicholas Plancich, as well as great nieces Sophia and Joey Plancich. Donations can be made to:
Vashon Maury Island Heritage Association P.O. Box 723 Vashon, Wash. 98070, or Vashon Island Fire and Rescue, Aid Fund, P.O. Box 1150 Vashon, Wash. 98070.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Island Funeral Home. A reception will follow at the VFW Hall.
Gordon, Frances Ann McKay Saturday, 18 Nov 2006
Fran Gordon was born July 18, 1953, and died Nov. 18, 2006, surrounded by family.
Her family says she was a great lady, loved by all who knew her.
Mrs. Gordon worked for many years as a theater technician and light designer for Seattle Center and local productions. She was heavily involved in church activities, PTSA, local elections, local theater and many other activities. She left her mark on Vashon, and many people will miss her.
Survivors include her husband Richard Gordon and son David Gordon, sisters Rebecca Sykes of Utah and Kathleen Lewis of Minnesota, father-in-law Bob Gordon of Vashon and four nieces and three nephews.
A memorial service was Nov. 24, 2006, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Vashon. Memorials in her name may be made to the Vashon Community Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1413, Vashon, Wash. 98070.
Shigley, Asa W. Thursday, 09 Nov 2006
Asa Shigley was born on July 4, 1920, in Seattle, Wash. He died Nov. 9, 2006, in Seattle.
Mr. Shigley grew up in and around the Seattle area. He joined the Navy at 17 and was discharged in October of 1941. He then joined the Sailors Union of the Pacific and shipped out of Seattle on the sailing vessel Commodore. As WWII broke in December, the ship was forced to sail around the Cape of Capricorn.
During WWII, he sailed for the Merchant Marine and crossed the Atlantic numerous times in the supply convoys to Europe. After the war, he returned to Seattle and began building fishing boats with his father in Port Orchard.
In 1946, he met and married
his wife Lois in Sitka, Alaska. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in September.
In 1953, Mr. Shigley went back to the Merchant Marine, where he sailed as a captain until 1972. He then worked as a Port Captain until 1986 when he retired. He moved to Vashon in 1950 and considered it his home for the remainder of his life.
He was a president of the Cape Horners Club of North America, which was a “Last Man” association composed of those who had “rounded the Cape” on sailing vessels. He was a devoted family man, his family says.
Survivors include his wife Lois and children Rebecca and her husband Terry Raisio, Asa and his wife Karen, and Mike. Additional survivors include his grandchildren Sam, Ben, Asa, Ryan, Jacquelyn, Joe, Tyson and Mallory and great grandchildren Hunter and Natalia. They will miss his love and concern.
There was no funeral service.
Gleb, Jr., Walter Friday, 09 Nov 2007
Walter Elliott Gleb, Jr. was born April 7, 1924, to Walter E. and Clara A. Gleb in Tacoma, Wash. He died at his home on Nov. 9, 2007, with his family and loved ones at his side.
The family moved to St. Paul, Minn., when he was 8 years old, and they lived there until he joined the Navy when he was 17 years old. He served in the military until 1949 on the Valley Forge Aircraft Carrier.
He married
Ida M. Lee on Sept. 30, 1950, and they had five children.
They lived in Mounds View, Minn., until they moved back to the Seattle area in 1978. In 1980, they moved to Vashon, where he resided until he died.
Wally went to night school to become an electrician. In Minnesota, he did industrial construction, and his work included the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant. He went back to working for the railroad and was transferred to Seattle in 1978. He retired from the railroad in 1989.
He enjoyed the water and the view and especially enjoyed taking pictures whenever he could. Family members say he always had a camera in his hand. After he retired, he enjoyed computers. He taught himself how to use them and how to fix one when it would crash. Since childhood, he built small airplanes with gas engines, and he would fly them and fix them after they crashed.
Wally was a kind and gentle man who loved his family and friends and especially his dog Cocoa, according to family members.
His parents died earlier, as did his brother Paul, granddaughter Nicole Helman, grandson Robert Wilson and great granddaughter Chloe Torrell.
Survivors include his wife Ida and children Nancy Johnson and her husband Rex, Shirley Wilson-Oslund and her husband Terry, Donna Kruessel and her husband Kevin, Walter E. Gleb, III, and his wife Sandy and Joseph E. Gleb. Additional survivors include 11 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
